title: Provision of surgical voice restoration in England: questionnaire survey of speech and language therapists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a questionnaire survey of speech and language therapists providing and managing surgical voice restoration in England.
  
  
  METHODS
  National Health Service Trusts registering more than 10 new laryngeal cancer patients during any one year, from November 2009 to October 2010, were identified, and a list of speech and language therapists compiled. A questionnaire was developed, peer reviewed and revised. The final questionnaire was e-mailed with a covering letter to 82 units.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-two questionnaires were distributed and 72 were returned and analysed, giving a response rate of 87.8 per cent. Forty-four per cent (38/59) of the units performed more than 10 laryngectomies per year. An in-hours surgical voice restoration service was provided by speech and language therapists in 45.8 per cent (33/72) and assisted by nurses in 34.7 per cent (25/72). An out of hours service was provided directly by ENT staff in 35.5 per cent (21/59). Eighty-eight per cent (63/72) of units reported less than 10 (emergency) out of hours calls per month.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical voice restoration service provision varies within and between cancer networks. There is a need for a national management and care protocol, an educational programme for out of hours service providers, and a review of current speech and language therapist staffing levels in England.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Nottingham University Hospitals, Queen's Medical Centre Campus, Nottingham, UK. pjbradley@zoo.co.uk
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Counter
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hurren
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Cocks
mesh_terms: D039602:After-Hours Care; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004739:England; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010036:Otolaryngology; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D016526:Workload